February 4, 2026; Stanford, California, USA; Clemson Tigers coach Brad Brownell speaks with players, including guard Jestin Porter (1) and guard Dylan Hunter (2), during a timeout in the second half of the game against the Stanford Cardinal at Maples Pavilion. Mandatory Credit: John Hefti-Imagn Image Of the seven founding members of the Atlantic Coast Conference, Clemson is the only one not to have won an ACC Men’s Basketball Tournament title.
It’s a painful legacy the fifth-seeded Tigers will try to erase this week as they claim their 73rd win in the ACC Tournament.
Clemson (22-9) faces 13th-seeded Wake Forest (17-15) in the second round Wednesday in Charlotte.
Brad Brownell, the longest-serving coach in program history and the man behind eight 20-win seasons in 16 years, is tired of the annual reminders that the Tigers lack conference tournament success.
“We made it to the semifinals last year,” Brownell said Monday. “I think we get overlooked sometimes.”
Ranked 36th in the NET rankings and with a 5-5 record in Quad 1 competition, Clemson would have been assured of a spot in the NCAA Tournament.
Wake Forest advanced with a 95-89 overtime win over 12th-seeded Virginia Tech on Tuesday.
With top scorer Juke Harris making just 3 of 18 shots, the rest of the Demon Deacons picked up the slack, making 27-of-41 (65.9%) attempts overall, including 8-of-16 (50.0%) from beyond the arc.
Myles Colvin (18 points) hit a jumper and a 3-pointer to give Wake Forest a quick lead in overtime, and they didn’t give it up. Nate Calmis (10 points) made all four shots, including two 3-pointers, in 14 minutes of game time.
“The balance of our team was key, keeping seven players in double figures when Juke wasn’t joking as much as Juke jukes,” said Demon Deacons coach Steve Forbes.
Wake Forest beat Clemson 85-77 at home on Feb. 18 by making 54.9 percent of its shots, including 10 of 22 (45.5 percent) from deep.
“It’s going to be a different game today,” Forbes said after the Virginia Tech game. It’s a physical game. “Now, get ready. We are playing on house money. Feel free to play.”
The winner of that game will face fourth-seeded North Carolina on Thursday night.
“We’re still trying to win the ACC Tournament and this is definitely a tough draw,” Brownell said. “Take one game at a time and try to win the next game. Build your confidence throughout the tournament.”
–Field level media
